Female Formula 1 fan?!

Yes. There is such a thing. And it is me. People are always shocked when I tell them I am a Formula 1 fan. But it is true. Not like 'I occasionally glance at the screen when it's on', I really know my stuff. I watch the practices, the qualifying, the race, the pre-show, the post-show, the interviews and the analysis. It is fascinating how much goes into that sport and how it sucks me in. The main reason I got into watching F1 is my dad; ever since I can remember we always had the race on the Tv on Sundays so my older brother got really into it and I copied everything he does so I watched it too. Little did I know I would really start watching it. I suppose I would have given up watching it by now if I didn't really find it interesting, but I honestly do. I am a Ferrari fan. That means I support no particular driver, I support whichever two drive for Ferrari because Ferrari is an institution in the world of motorsport. No other team exudes such pride, success, team spirit and
above all, passion. It is no wonder Italy is so proud of Ferrari as a company. It represents
them around the globe in the best way possible. My impression is that all the drivers wish to be Ferrari drivers at some point in their careers. Not all of them will admit it, but some have.
I was lucky enough to get to go to a Formula 1 race in Monza, Italy a couple years ago. It was spectacular. Yes, I would have probably seen more of the race at home on the TV, but the excitement that fills the air around the track is just a unique experience. What is more, that is a home race for Ferrari and the Italians were just mad with excitement and cheering. It was so special and I really hope I will get to go again. I would also like to see a race in Monaco since it is a legendary track and I have seen it in real life when I was in Monaco, but I would like to see a F1 race there.

My favourite drivers are Michael Schumacher (picture above) (an obvious choice, I know) and Fernando Alonso (pictured right and below). Both Ferrari drivers, one retired and one current. People are quick to judge when I say I am a fan of Michael's just because he is a legend with his 7 titles and everyone knows him and loves him. And why not? It is easy to love the best ones. But I was just getting into F1 for real when he was in his peak years and I remember some of his races and how he overtook drivers in impossible situations. His style was aggressive and unscrupulous, but this sport kind of demands it. I was so shocked when I heard of his skiing accident last year and am I am so incredibly glad his health is slowly improving. I believe he will recover a decent amount because of his fighting spirit.
My current favorite is FErnando Alonso. This spaniard is just fantastic. He is an unbelievably talented driver (not that I am the best judge of that, but experienced people and motorsport experts claim so) with the most positive of attitudes there is. He is a two-time world champion for a couple years back, but is yet to win a title with Ferrari. Which they a re making a bit difficult for him, but he is certainly not the one to ever give up. I admire his mental strength, his skills and his modesty despite the success and compliments he gets constantly. I believe he has still got a lot to show and I know he is going to.
This week's race is being held in Spielberg just outside Graz and I am sad it is so close, yet so far away from me. But maybe next year I will save up and go see it! You never know! Forza Ferrari!

I'll be there for you

What is it about "Friends" that gained them this enormous popularity that has hardly dropped even though we just marked the TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY of their LAST episode? The entire world has been watching this famous sitcom for 20 years and, by the looks of it, their reign is nowhere near done. The producers, writers and actors obviously came up with something very special since it took the TV world by storm and became the most successful sitcom of all times. I am probably not the best one to be telling you about "Friends" since I am a die hard fan and arguably the biggest fan ever :) I have seen the entire show (which is 236 episodes in 10 seasons) multiple times and still can't get enough. I feel like the characters are equal parts funny and relatable. It picks me up when I'm down, it helps time go by faster when I travel, it is fun to watch with my family or friends. I can't think of a single occasion watching "Friends" wasn't a bad idea. I even went to the building that was used to film the outside of their apartments while I was in New York City.
Normally when I watch an episode I know exactly what they will say in advance, but it never stops me from seeing all of the episodes again and again and again. I prefer the "newer" ones; season 5-10. I can't say why, I'm not sure, but I tend to gravitate towards those ones when I choose an episode to watch before bedtime. It sends me off to sleep in the most perfect way :D

Culture Days

We had the Grand Finale of our Culture Projects this week. We did the best we could to work on our topic, write the paper, correct it, make a presentation and present it in front of our classmates. We had to see 10 presentations, 7 american and 3 irish. I chose to see the following 10: The Korean War, Same-Sex Marriage in the United States, The Reinventions of Malcolm X, Captain America and Propaganda, San Francisco's rise to popularity, Media Violence, Great American Entrepreneurs, Irish influences on C.S. Lewis’ work, What did the Fenian Brotherhood achieve with their raids on Canada, The role of Oliver Cromwell in Great Britain and Ireland. If I am being completely honest here, I enjoyed the american ones way more than the irish ones. The american topics were really interesting and the presentations were great. The irish ones are probably just not my cup of tea. Not saying that the presenters influenced my "bad" impression, the girls in the irish class were really very successful in their presenting, it's the topics that I felt disconnected to. But that's alright. Not everything is for everyone! :) I wish I could have stayed to watch more american presentations, but I had classes and couldn't. Therefore I will take a look at their Prezis and handouts. My overall impression of the Culture Project is extremely positive and I hope we will do something similar in the future!

What good bloggers do

So. Here's the thing. I am aware of the fact that I am very late on this topic, but I just realized a couple minutes ago that I was even supposed to write it. But it is not as bad because it kind of builds on our previous experiences with blogging from SUK1, but I didn't attend that class because I started studying in the second semester. Therefore, I don't know what to improve based on my past blogging, but I can try to express my opinion on interesting blogging. I think blogs should be at least somewhat informative to be interesting. Of course you can turn your blog into a diary and just write random stuff about yourself and your life. But why not be informative at the same time? For example, if you write about a place you visited, why not give a bit of a background of where it is, what is it famous for (if anything) and such information. Humour is probably the next good advice. Yes, I realize my blog isn't funny, but I don't expect a larger audience to read it. Blogs should also have plenty of photos because they make the experience more enjoyable for the reader and they look appealing when someone stumbles upon your blog. A good blogger should also have a posting schedule and stick to it because people will expect you to post regularly and be consistent with your work. We can all better ourselves and I suppose I will also get better at blogging if I end up sticking to it.

A manual for all things Croatian

There is this american guy from Oklahoma named Cody. He lives in Zagreb because he married a Croatian woman and teaches english at the University of Zagreb. Why am I telling you this? He writes the best blog I have read in my entire life. (http://zablogreb.blogspot.com) Seriously. He's been living in Croatia for a couple years and he observes the life, the people, the cities, the customs, the food and everything else. The thing is: he is a genius. Yes, I am aware of the fact that anyone who lives in a foreign country notices differences and things around them but his style of writing is just fantastic. I feel like he reads us like a book and it really took him an unbelievably short amount of time to figure everything out. When I read his posts I just think OHMYGOD, YOU'RE RIGHT after every single sentence. And it amuses me. I find it extremely interesting to hear how foreigners see us Croats and what they think of our customs and lifestyles. And it is even better for me that he is an American because I am hugely interested in America and all things american so I love it when he draws comparisons between the two countries. If anyone is interested in Croatia and would like to read a witty "handbook" on living in Croatia as a Croat, you should most certainly visit Cody's blog at http://zablogreb.blogspot.com.

Summertime happiness and wintertime blues

Summer is a very big deal where I'm from. Croatia basically lives off of summer tourism for the entire next year. The so-called "Summer tourist season" spans from early June until late September. The exact dates being largely influenced by the weather. Croatia typically has a continental climate which means we have below-zero-snowy winter months and sunny-hot-dry summer months. Well, that seems like the best of both worlds. Is it though? For the most part, yes. The snow never comes when I would like it and when it's stereotypically expected, which is around Christmas and New Years, right? It usually falls in early December and late February. And then it falls like it is the last snow we will ever get. Literally blocks the traffic and causes mayhem. Why, snow?
Why? I don't need you then. I have to study for my exams, I can't enjoy your perks :( I don't want to come across as ungrateful, at least we have snow, I have friends who have never seen it in real life and I think they are missing out big time. It is just so calming to look at once eve
rything is covered in fresh snow! You can even ski in Zagreb. (That is a bit far-fetched as there is only like one track and it is a fairly beginner one, but we have been hosting FIS Ski World Cup slalom races for both men and women for the past 9 years). But that is not the main source of income for the country anyway. It is summer. Oh, summer! I feel like many Croats consider it a religion. They live for it. Have countdowns until it begins. Save money for it.  Seems crazy, right? But we truly have such a beautiful coast it is no wonder it attracts plenty of tourists.  I will honestly say I haven't really appreciated it quite enough before I travelled a bunch and saw what some other countries consider being "a beautiful coast" or where they spend their vacation. It is all very pretty and unique but Croatia is blessed with a vast territory of diverse natural sceneries along the coastline. I have also seen the majority of it and it is really pretty. I know I am easily perceived as biased just because I am a Croat after all, but my brother and I have had quite a few friends from various countries over at our summer house and they were all pretty amazed even though we were only able to show them a small piece of the coast. Anyhow, enough of the patriotism, I'm not even a patriotic type of person!

This is the Zlatni Rat beach on the island of Brač

The Modra Spilja cave on the island of Vis

This is the National Park Plitvička Jezera

Also Plitvička Jezera

Kornati

Hvar

Sweet or savoury people

It happens rather often that I hear people asking each other wether they are a 'sweet or a savoury person'. I think it sounds ridiculous and opens up a can of worms because people as usual tend to struggle with the concept of accepting someone else's opinion even though they might not agree with it.   I actually don't mind being asked that question one bit. I will always reply that I could live without sweets but not without meat, cheese and pasta. Which leads me to two of my favourite dishes.
Lasagne and mac&cheese (with the side of meat, of course ;) ). When I travelled to the USA last
year I ate some form of mac&cheese pretty much
every day. I just love it way too much. I remember the first time ever I tried it; it was at the Hard Rock Cafe in Rome in 2008. They still have that dish called Twisted Mac, Chicken and Cheese on the menu and I order it every single time I enter a HRC. I mean…really…look at it!! YUM!! It is so delicious (mac), so tender (chicken), so creamy (cheese), so crunchy (bread)… I am so hungry right now, writing this post right now is such a bad idea. I am going to make me some mac'n'cheese alright! ;)

The other dish I mentioned, the lasagne has been one of my favourites way before the mac&cheese because my mom has been making it since I was a kid. I have ate my fair share of bad lasagne in my pretty long lasagne-eating-career, but I have also had some fantastic versions. I love to make it myself, too. I might do that tomorrow ;) 

And while plenty of people can't wait to finish their main course just to get to indulge in sweets, I would rather take another piece of the lasagne and skip the dessert. And I have always been that way. In my chocolate-loving dessert-craving family there is always an abundance of sweets after meals but I tend to skip them altogether. I am just full and there is no room nor wish for desserts.  

TV Show obsession

So, I have the strangest taste in TV shows. I would cancel my day to stay in and watch Masterchef US, The Voice US and X factor UK. Bizarre. Everybody is watching shows like Breaking bad, Entourage or Vampire diaries which I honestly couldn't care less about. But Masterchef? YES, PLEASE!! I discovered Masterchef about two years ago when I came across the Croatian version on TV. I liked the concept and realised it must be an American invention so I researched it and found the US version online. I watched the entire three seasons in a couple of weeks and was completely hooked from the very first episode. The brand new fourth season started shortly after and I just found myself googling to stream the episodes every Tuesday in the morning right after it was shown live in the US on Monday evenings. I literally became obsessed with it. And I still am. The brand new fifth season has just begun a couple weeks ago and I can't wait for Tuesday to watch it. The reason I love it is (I suppose) the fact that I love to eat. I love food. Preparing it, garnishing, eating. Which is actually even more bizarre considering the fact that I don't eat fruits and vegetables. Yes. That is right. No fruits and vegetables. Okay, I eat french fries and mashed potatoes. And that's it. No fruit whatsoever. Which always prompts people to ask : What the hell do you eat?!?! Well, meat. Mostly. I have a pretty limited range of ingredients but I try to be more adventurous with age and I try to combine the ingredients in new ways. I used to be like: Wiener Schnitzel mit Pommes. And that's it. But nowadays I eat different food from different cuisines, I just pick out the vegetables. I do use some when I cook, though. And I have always always seen cooking perceived as a passion since both my parents cook incredibly and my dad is a food connoisseur. So, yeah. Love food and therefore, the show. It is interesting, funny and above all extremely educational. And also, they have a Junior Masterchef for pre-teens. Which I also watched religiously. Cringeworthy, I know.

The next show mentioned is The X Factor UK. This is kind of hard to explain as people tend to judge me when I say singing is more of a talent that dancing. But I really feel that way. You are either born with a voice or not. If not, there is nothing in the world you can do. Dancing? Everyone can dance to some extent. Sure there are also people born to dance and way better at it than most, but I think that one can sort of train and practice and really improve. Whereas with the voice I can't see that happening. And since I have danced when I was younger (not that I was extremely talented, but I was okay) I kind of know how it goes and I am not very intrigued about it. But I would give literally anything to be able to sing. I just don't have a singing voice. Which is so sad, I think it is such a beautiful talent. But I still really really enjoy listening to people singing with nice voices. I take my music very seriously and I appreciate artists with good voices. And the X Factor gives me the thrill of hearing an unknown person sing beautifully. My favorite part is when someone sings one of the songs I love and really nails it or when I like the amateur version more than the original. I realise that the vast majority of the people who appear on these shows disappear in the next month after the show ends but I don't really care. I love it while it lasts. The Voice is pretty much the same. The concept of the show is entirely different and I actually much prefer it to the X Factor but my reasons to watch both of them are the new voices.

So, this was my TV obsession confession :D Hopefully I didn't come across as too weird :)

Rain equals sadness, sun equals happiness?!

Why is it that people feel better on sunny days? I think that is somewhat of a general fact. Could be just me though… Let's say it's just me because I currently have no one by my side to compare thoughts with. Right now it's raining and it's strange how it made me really glum and put me in a bad mood, yet prompted me to write this post.
When I wake up to a sunny day I feel full of energy, happy, nothing looks like a bad idea to me, every problem seem solvable and positivity just takes over. A grey, rainy day is the complete opposite. I feel uninspired to do just about anything. I struggle with a lack of motivation (which is a common thing for me), lack of energy, lack of reasons to do something I could postpone for tomorrow. And tomorrow might be sunny. Sometimes people tell me I am weird because the sun makes them want to stop working and just go out and enjoy it. Yes, I understand and agree to a certain extent. But the temperatures also have an impact. A cold, sunny day in the winter is always nice and welcome, but it does not make me want to enjoy it outside. I just appreciate the fact that I feel better and have more energy and motivation. Of course life is not all about choosing wether you feel like doing something or not, but rather if you have to regardless of the day. However, I think sun and warmth give me energy and will, whereas sad, rainy days depress me and put me in a bad mood. At least on those days I can tell myself 'do your homework and then you can enjoy the sun' and give myself somewhat of a motivational line. Good thing these exams coming up are in the warmer weather so I will reward myself with laying in the park once they finish :)

Blogception: A blog post about blog posts

What are blogs for? Why do I feel like they overexpose people? What’s the purpose of a blog? In this specific case I am writing it because I have to. And I don’t mind writing at all. Honestly. I just really really struggle with finding inspiration for my posts. I am feeling very reluctant to write this blog purely because I don’t feel like using it as my diary nor do I think people will reach for my blog as a source of information when we have Google and such websites. So what do I write about? I guess a little of both. And food. Why? Why not?! Food is always a good idea! (See what I did there ;) ) And perhaps traveling. I love that also. I think I will wrap this post up and brainstorm for the next one!

Welcome!

Well, hello there! Welcome to my blog! My name is Magda(lena), I am from Zagreb, Croatia but I study in Graz. This blog was first and foremost set up for my SUK class, and since I’m not a passionate blogger there might not be the most exciting of content here. But I will try! J